A Programming Git CTF

Technical Programming
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#1

MisCar 1574 Git Games

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Announcing Git Games - our programming Capture the Flag for learning git.
To make our training more enjoyable for freshmen every year, we’ve decided to teach Git using a challenge:

  • There are 7 challenges to crack currently, with room to grow in the future (if you have any ideas send them to our email!)
  • Each level is an encrypted ZIP archive with instructions
  • You need to use Git commands to find the password to the next level
  • In the end you will find the Git Games Trophy (which you can share below)

In the end you’ll hopefully know Git enough to have no troubles switching branches and managing commits and progress during the intense seasons.

The full instructions and first level are included here. Be sure to read them as well, or you’ll get stuck on the first level (the password is MisCar).

If you’ve managed to beat the games, feel free to post your time record down below and we’ll mention you on our website. No cheating!

Enjoy!

MisCar 1574’s Programming Team

22 Likes
#2

This is an excellent idea. Not only does this seem fun, but it will help students learn git commands. Disguise learning as a game (that’s pretty much what FRC is anyways)

1 Like
#3

4:00 (really minus like 2sec because my keyboard decided to act up on stopping it, lol)
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That was good. Honestly may use this for 3468.

2 Likes
#4

You have the git games trophy in 4 minutes??

1 Like
#5

Yes. TBF, I am a Software Engineer who uses Git daily.

#6

Wow, here I was telling my friends they could set a record because 45 minutes seemed a little high to me.
That’s incredible…
Can I mention your record on the website?

1 Like
#7

Of course. If you want to use my real name its Gustave Michel.

#8

This is a neat challenge! I was able to complete it in about 5 minutes (didn’t really accurately time it), but covers a lot of important Git concepts. I’ll definitely pass this on to my team.

2 Likes
#9

Awesome! Can I list you as well on the website?

#10

Sure!

#11

"Hello everyone welcome to the channel be sure to like and subscribe.

So today we’re going to be speedrunning Git. Let’s git to it!"

7 Likes
#12

Took me roughly 10 minutes. Pretty good exercise!

I didn’t solely use the command line though, so I’m not sure if that’s cheating. All the git commands were in git bash, but some of the other stuff I used other things. I won’t give too much away

3 Likes
#13

The point is to have fun and while you’re at it get comfortable with Git, so it’s definitely not cheating. In fact some of my friends did it using SourceTree or GitHub Desktop.
Moreover, I use mostly GUI programs in the end to manage competition code, and I don’t see that as a negative in any way.

Can I place you on the website’s leaderboard?

#14

Sure. I don’t have a super accurate time though

#15

This is really nice! Took me about 10 minutes. I’d love to see a git tree with merge conflicts that the player has to use rebasing/stashing to fix!

3 Likes
#16

Finished in ~10 minutes. Loved the 7th level - thanks!

Definitely going to share this with the rest of the subteam!

1 Like
#17

I was more like 26 minutes, but it was a fun challenge.

2 Likes
#18

Btw, if you’re interested in creating CTFs of your own I created a very simple python script in my GitHub to create the ZIP layout used in our CTF.

Also, given the suggestions we’ll be sure to release a broader version in a couple of months which will cover more topics such as merging and such. If you still have suggestions (or even level ideas!) feel free to reach out

1 Like
#19

Really great work here in making something challenging to learn have a gamification to it.

I work with Git all the time professionally so it’s a bit of a cheater time as well, but finished it just under 5 minutes.

I assume you all are okay with other teams using this for their own Git training as well? Thanks again for the work.

1 Like
#20

Certainly!
Would you like to be mentioned on the website?